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cnbc.com
Supreme Court hears birthright citizenship case with Trump in room
Trump's executive order says babies born in the U.S. are not entitled to citizenship if their parents are illegal immigrants or undocumented workers.
cnbc.com
10-year Treasury yield is little changed as investors monitor developments with Iran war
The 10-year Treasury yield was relatively unchanged on Wednesday as investors assessed the prospect of a resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.
cnbc.com
Germany stops gas stations from raising pump prices more than once a day
Germany is introducing a fuel package to prevent powerful gas companies from "abusive fuel price increases," as the Middle East conflict continues.
theguardian.com
Oil tumbles and stock markets soar on hopes Middle East war will end soon, as Bank of England warns of ‘substantial negative supply shock’ – business live
Brent crude prices have fallen sharply, while the FTSE 100 is up 1.8% and government bonds are rallyingUK food inflation ‘could hit 9% this year’ as Iran war drives up energy pricesMiddle East crisis live: Trump claims war will end in ‘two or three weeks’; Rubio says US should ‘re-examine’ Nato relationshipIran war may increase mortgage payments for extra 1.3m UK households, says Bank of EnglandThe bond market is also reacting to hopes of peace in the Middle East soon.Government bonds are rallying, which is pushing down the yield (or interest rate) on UK debt. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
South Korea's Kospi leads rebound in Asia markets as Trump says Iran war could end in weeks
On Tuesday stateside, Trump said the U.S. could leave Iran in "two or three weeks," adding "We leave because there's no reason for us to do this."
cnbc.com
Trump signs executive order limiting mail-in voting ahead of 2026 U.S. elections
Trump has put pressure on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, a measure that would require photo identification and proof of U.S. citizenship to vote.
bbc.com
Minimum wage rises to £12.71 an hour as firms warn of impact
Many businesses have said they will have to pass higher wage costs onto customers.
cnbc.com
Trump says Iran's president asked for ceasefire, but U.S. wants Hormuz Strait open first
The war began in late February when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, causing economic turmoil and massive global energy disruptions.
cnbc.com
Private sector hiring totaled 62,000 in March, better than expected, ADP says
Private sector employment growth kept pace, but health care and construction continued to provide nearly all the momentum.
bbc.com
Leamington restaurant to close after rising costs
A restaurant in Leamington say rising costs and falling footfall are behind their decision to close.
cnbc.com
Iran threatens Nvidia, Apple and other tech giants with attacks
Iran's Revolutionary Guard has warned a number of tech companies with Middle East operations that they'll be considered "legitimate targets."
theguardian.com
MP rejects Palantir’s claims that criticism of NHS England deal is ‘ideologically motivated’
Head of committee says it was appropriate for government to seek guidance on way out of £330m deal with US data companyClaims by Palantir that concerns over the US data analytics company’s multimillion-pound NHS contract are “ideologically motivated” have been rejected by the chair of a parliamentary committee.It was also appropriate for the government to seek guidance on activating a break contract in the deal, said Chi Onwurah, a Labour MP who heads the science, innovation and technology select committee. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Oil prices fall to around $100 after Trump indicates war could end in weeks
Crude prices fell Wednesday as President Donald Trump signaled a willingness to exit the Iran war even as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed.
cnbc.com
Oracle stock rises in premarket on plans to cut thousands of jobs
Oracle plans to cut thousands of jobs which will free up cash flow as the company aggressively invests in its AI data center buildout.
theguardian.com
Housebuilder Berkeley to halt buying new land and hiring staff
Group cuts costs as shares plunge while it grapples with impact of Iran war on property market Business live – latest updatesOne of Britain’s biggest housebuilders has said it will stop buying new land and hiring new staff, as it grapples with the impact of the Iran war on the property market.The London-focused housebuilder Berkeley said it would cut costs as it warned that “geopolitical volatility” and reduced potential for interest rate cuts could weigh on the business. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Oil supply crunch will worsen in April, IEA warns as it weighs releasing more strategic reserves
The organization’s Executive Director Fatih Birol also warned that the Iran war had created the worst oil crisis in history.
cnbc.com
Europe stocks rebound strongly as Trump says Iran war will end in weeks
Europe stocks rebound strongly as Trump says Iran war will end in weeks
cnbc.com
Novo's Wegovy cleared by UK drug price watchdog for heart disease, expanding access by 1.2 million people
The new recommendation will significantly expand access to Wegovy on England's NHS.
theguardian.com
This is what a fossil-fuel shock looks like. The UK must adapt its energy system – and quickly | Chaitanya Kumar
The Iran war will hit food prices, fuel costs and interest rates. But with a few smart moves, we could could turn this crisis to our advantageEnergy shocks don’t just raise our energy bills – they can be turning points in how our economy runs. The UK responded to the energy crises of the 1970s by reshaping its energy system and doubling down on extracting its own fossil fuels from the North Sea. Investment poured in and the UK became a net energy exporter. When energy security is on the line, serious countries act at scale. Today, as the war in Iran continues, scraping the North Sea barrel for the last of its planet-heating fuel is no longer a solution. If the UK is to weather the shocks to come, we need to build a clean energy system for the next generation.A supply deficit of 10m oil barrels a day and a fifth of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade is already having significant effects around the world. The UK is painfully exposed to international gas prices. The public expect inflation to soar, the market is forecasting a rise in interest rates over the next year, and costs on some government borrowing have risen to levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. This is what a fossil-fuel shock looks like for an import-dependent country, and it will not stop at energy. UK food inflation is already high, reaching 3.3% in February, and we are likely to see much higher food prices in as little as three months.Chaitanya Kumar is head of economic and environmental policy at the New Economics Foundation Continue reading...
theguardian.com
BP is operating in a world of ‘significant complexity’, new boss tells staff
Meg O’Neill’s memo comes as company tries to rebuild strategy amid oil shock of Iran war and after failed green pivotBusiness live – latest updatesThe new boss of BP has told staff that the oil company is operating in a world of “significant complexity” as it attempts to rebuild its strategy under a fresh leadership team.In her first message to staff as BP’s chief executive, Meg O’Neill promised a “clear direction and consistency” after a tumultuous period for the 117-year-old fossil fuel company, in which it has pivoted away from a failing green strategy. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Warning Iran war 'shock' could push up mortgages for 1.3m homeowners
Higher energy prices could lead to higher borrowing costs for homeowners, the Bank warns.
theguardian.com
Iran war may increase mortgage payments for extra 1.3m households, says Bank of England
Financial policy committee predicts ‘Trumpflation’ rises, as average two-year fixed rate hits 5.84%Business live – latest updatesThe US-Israel war on Iran could end up increasing monthly mortgage payments for more than one million more UK households, the Bank of England has predicted, adding that the conflict had dealt “a substantial negative supply shock” to the world economy.Financial market jitters over the conflict in the Middle East have resulted in banks pulling about 1,500 mortgage products, with many banks raising interest rates on their remaining 7,000 home loan products in recent weeks, the Bank’s financial policy committee (FPC) said. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
US tech firm Oracle cuts thousands of jobs as it steps up AI spending
Company chaired by Trump ally Larry Ellison seeks to reassure investors that bet on AI infrastructure will pay offOracle is cutting thousands of jobs as the US technology company seeks to reassure investors that its bet on AI infrastructure will pay off.The $420bn (£315bn) company, which is headquartered in Austin, Texas, started making employees redundant on Tuesday, with thousands of its 162,000-strong workforce expected to leave. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Tourists flock to Paris, cheapest capital in Europe – archive, 1926
With restaurants and music halls at half London prices, holidaymakers are pouring into the city for EasterFrom our own correspondent 3 April 1926 Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Yes, the rich must start paying their fair share of taxes | Bernie Sanders
We need a 5% wealth tax on America’s 938 billionaires. Over a ten-year period, this bill would raise much-needed $4.4tn for public coffersNever before in American history have so few had so much wealth and power. Today, the top one percent owns more wealth than the bottom 93%. One man, Elon Musk, worth $805bn, owns more wealth than the bottom 53% of American households.And that inequality is getting worse. Last year alone, after receiving the largest tax break in history from Donald Trump, 938 billionaires in America became $1.5tn richer. Since he was elected, President Trump and his family have become $4bn richer. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Lunar prospectors: the businesses looking to mine the moon
Within the lunar dirt is a type of helium so rare on Earth that a palm-sized container is estimated to be worth millionsIn the silent vacuum of space, five autonomous robots churn through the lunar surface, digging up a loose layer of rock and dust and leaving rows of uniform tracks in their wake.Stopping only to recharge at a central solar power station, the car-sized machines process the lunar dirt internally to extract a type of helium so rare on Earth that a palm-sized container is estimated to be worth millions. Once processed, the precious resource is loaded into a launcher and ejected back to Earth. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Shares of China AI 'tiger' Zhipu surge 35% after revenue doubles in first earnings report
Shares of Chinese AI company Zhipu surged over 30% in trading, after posting strong revenue growth in its first earnings report since its IPO.
bbc.com
Topps Tiles to close 23 stores over rising costs
Topps Tiles says eight stores have already closed - with the rest to shut over the next six months.
bbc.com
Minimum wage: Who is getting a pay rise and how much is it?
Increases in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage mean 2.7 million workers will be paid more from April.
bbc.com
Oil briefly falls below $100 and shares jump on Trump Iran war pledge
European stock markets opened higher after the US president said the conflict would "end very soon".
cnbc.com
Baidu robotaxis reportedly halted mid-traffic causing crashes in Wuhan, China
Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxis stopped mid-traffic in a Chinese city on Tuesday, leading to at least one highway collision, according to social media.
cnbc.com
Big Japanese companies are feeling optimistic despite the Iran war — but it might not last
The positive sentiment may not fully capture the impact from the Iran war, analysts said, as Japan's Tankan survey period ended in March.
bbc.com
Estate agents accuse Rightmove of charging excessive fees
The online listing portal is now being pursued in a class action, launched on behalf of potentially hundreds of estate agents.
bbc.com
Energy bill help would be based on household income, Reeves says
The chancellor tells the BBC it is "too early" to say exactly who would get help but hinted any support would not arrive until the autumn.
theguardian.com
Cost of living: get ready for ‘awful April’ bill increases
From council tax to water, broadband to stamps, the annual round of price rises starts on 1 April … and that’s before any fallout from Iran warUK savers told to act now before Easter Sunday cash Isa deadlineBritons will typically see more than £200 added to their household bills this year as “awful April” price increases kick in.The annual rises are particularly unwelcome as the financial turmoil caused by the Middle East conflict has pushed up mortgage rates, fuel prices and energy bills for rural households. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Thousands lose their jobs in deep cuts at tech giant Oracle
It is thought that thousands of people may have lost their jobs at Oracle, one of the world's largest tech companies.
theguardian.com
Manchester United wage bill revealed as half that of WSL rivals Arsenal last season
Skinner’s side spent £5.88m while Arsenal spent £11.3mUnited face Bayern in Champions League on WednesdayManchester United’s wage bill was about half that of their Women’s Super League rivals Arsenal’s last season, their latest financial accounts have revealed, highlighting the stark contrast in spending at some of England’s biggest clubs as they prepare for a decisive night of European action.United, who finished third in the WSL last season, four points behind second-placed Arsenal, face Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, while Arsenal travel to Chelsea, after they qualified for the competition with hugely different budgets. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Revealed: the vast illegal casino network targeting UK gamblers
Calls for tougher laws as network stretching from Caribbean to Georgia generates riches for offshore tycoons by appearing to prey on the vulnerableImmaculately groomed and beaming from ear to ear, Andres Markou looks every inch the golden boy of the gambling sector. The youthful boss of MyStake, a fast-growing digital casino, has been pictured shaking hands with the Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho over a lucrative branding partnership.Elsewhere, he can be seen collecting industry awards, or offering “visionary” insights to interviewers. There is only one hurdle blocking Markou’s ascent to the very top of his trade: he does not exist. Continue reading...
bbc.com
IndiGo names former British Airways chief Willie Walsh as CEO
The announcement comes days after former CEO Pieter Elbers quit in the backdrop of a flight cancellation crisis.
theguardian.com
Energy crisis: why ‘keep calm but cut down’ may be a better message for Labour
Government keen to avoid panic as oil price surges, but perhaps households need advice on reducing consumptionLabour ministers asked in recent days about the looming energy crisis sparked by the Iran war, including Keir Starmer himself, have essentially stuck to that reassuring wartime slogan: keep calm and carry on.“I think people should go about their lives as normal, knowing that the government is taking action to bring energy bills down,” James Murray, the chief secretary to the Treasury, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Delayed by EU entry/exit system? Then travel light
Only way to avoid missing a flight because of EES rules: squeeze everything into a cabin bag and skip luggage check-inTravellers to the EU risk missing their flights because bag drop-off times don’t allow for the long queues to get through a new security system.My family of four missed our easyJet flight home from Málaga because, although we followed advice from the airport and arrived three hours before departure, the bag drop-off didn’t open until two hours before. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC's UK Exchange newsletter: Trump's $10 billion lawsuit is just one problem facing the BBC's new boss
Former Google executive Matt Brittin's appointment comes as the BBC prepares to battle a $10 billion defamation claim from U.S. President Donald Trump.
cnbc.com
IndiGo shares jump 9% after India's largest airline names industry veteran William Walsh as CEO
Walsh, 64, is currently the director general of the International Air Transport Association and will join the Indian airline in early August.
theguardian.com
Say hello to the UK’s most successful growth industry: organised waste crime | George Monbiot
Thanks to a sustained ideological assault on regulation, our country has been turned into a literal dumpThis country’s a dump. I don’t mean that metaphorically. I mean it literally. From the point of view of criminal waste gangs, it is one big potential landfill. The chances of being caught range between minimal and nonexistent, and the penalties are mostly laughable. Successive governments have given criminals a licence to print money.Last week, the Commons public accounts committee reported that illegal waste dumping is “out of control”. The UK is now blighted with between 8,000 and 13,000 illegal waste sites. Most consist of a few lorry loads. Some contain tens of thousands of tonnes of waste, which might incorporate everything from household products to asbestos, heavy metals and highly toxic, flammable and explosive organic chemicals. The rubbish blows through local neighbourhoods, flows into rivers and seeps into soil and groundwater. And, in most cases, nothing is done.George Monbiot is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Chancellor meets UK supermarket bosses to discuss cost of living
Rachel Reeves will address concerns about price rises and shortages with retailers as energy costs surgeThe bosses of the UK’s biggest supermarkets are to meet the chancellor on Wednesday as the government seeks to gauge the extent of potential price rises and shortages of household essentials amid a surge in energy, fuel and fertiliser costs.Rachel Reeves is meeting the bosses of Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons as concerns rise about the potential impact on the cost of living – including higher food prices – as a result of the Middle East conflict. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
I wore Meta’s smartglasses for a month – and it left me feeling like a creep
Content creators love the built-in camera; sceptics call them ‘pervert glasses’. Do we really need any more hi-tech wearables, even with a voice assistant that sounds like Judi Dench?Lately, I’ve been hearing Judi Dench’s voice in my head. She tells me tomorrow’s forecast, when to turn right, that there’s been another message in my group chat. Day or night, Dame Judi is eager to assist. When I ask the eight-time Academy Award nominee what I’m looking at, she answers: a residential area, a person in a pub, daffodils. “They are a bright yellow colour and are often associated with spring.”This isn’t a delusion. This is, apparently, progress. I am test-driving Meta’s smartglasses and Dench voices its integrated AI assistant: “Here to chat, answer questions, create images and provide advice and inspiration,” said “Judi” when I selected her over the actors John Cena and Kristen Bell. “Shall we begin?” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
From the archive: the butcher’s shop that lasted 300 years (give or take) – podcast
We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors.This week, from 2020: Frank Fisher, now 90, was a traditional high street butcher his whole working life – as were three generations of his family before him. How does a man dedicated to serving his community decide when it’s time to hang up his white coat?By Tom Lamont. Read by Jonathan Andrew Hume Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The brilliant students the UK doesn’t want - podcast
Why has the UK introduced a ban on student visas for four countries? Today in Focus talks to affected students in Sudan and Afghanistan, as well as our home affairs editor, Rajeev SyalIn early March, with little warning, the UK announced a ban on student visas for four countries: Sudan, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Cameroon.It came as devastating news to Afra Elmahdi (pictured), an exceptional student from Sudan. Having survived civil war and been exiled to the United Arab Emirates, she hoped to further her medical career in the UK. But after being offered a place at the University of Oxford – and as she was waiting to find out whether she’d be offered a prestigious scholarship – she saw the announcement. She tells Helen Pidd of “the feeling that the ground had been pulled from my under of my feet” and that “there was nothing I could do to stop it”. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Markets rally as Trump signals Iran war could end soon
The impacts from the Iran war continue to way on global supply chains as economists raise their expectations for a potential recession in the U.S.
cnbc.com
Tiger Woods says he is seeking treatment after DUI rollover crash in Florida
President Donald Trump, whose former daughter-in-law Vanessa Trump is dating Woods, told The New York Post that Woods "lives a life of pain."
theguardian.com
Two-thirds of UK hospitality businesses plan to cut jobs and one in seven will close, survey finds
Sector cites ‘billions of pounds in additional costs’ from new business rates and increase in minimum wage thresholdsTwo-thirds of hospitality businesses are planning to cut jobs as a result of “suffocating” costs imposed by government, as new business rates and higher wage bills come into force.Many pubs, restaurants and hotel companies will see their costs increase significantly from 1 April after Rachel Reeves’s changes to business rates and an increase in minimum wage thresholds announced at the chancellor’s November budget. Continue reading...
bbc.com
From water to council tax: How the bill rises (and one drop) affect you
A string of bill increases have taken effect but minimum wage and benefit rises will help some to pay them.
theguardian.com
Want to boost the UK’s birthrate? Fix the housing crisis, research suggests
Policymakers should address financial barriers that hinder young people from starting families, says thinktank Politicians hoping to persuade young people in the UK to have more children should prioritise tackling housing affordability, according to research by the Resolution Foundation thinktank.There has been growing concern in recent years about Britain’s declining birthrate, given the long-term fiscal pressures of supporting an ageing population. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Asia's migrant workers debate if Gulf jobs are worth deadly risk of Iran war
Iran's strikes on Gulf states have been especially hard for migrants who have long supported these economies to lift their families back home from poverty.
bbc.com
Oil nears highest price since start of Iran war
The US-Israel Iran war has halted almost all traffic in a key waterway and the price Brent crude has surged.
cnbc.com
Crypto asset manager CoinShares to begin trading on Nasdaq through SPAC merger
CoinShares is merging with Vine Hill Capital to form the holding company CoinShares PLC in a deal valuing the business at about $1.2 billion.
cnbc.com
OpenAI closes record-breaking $122 billion funding round as anticipation builds for IPO
The round totaled $122 billion of committed capital, up from the $110 billion figure that was previously announced.
cnbc.com
Anthropic leaks part of Claude Code's internal source code
Claude Code has seen massive adoption over the last year, and its run-rate revenue had swelled to more than $2.5 billion as of February.
cnbc.com
Oracle cutting thousands in latest layoff round as company continues to ramp AI spending
Oracle has ratcheted up its capital expenditures as it builds data center infrastructure that can handle AI workloads.
theguardian.com
Investors tell Thames Water to ‘eat humble pie’ over failed takeover and open bids
CK Infrastructure says watchdog should intervene to let other firms bid after KKR pulled outThames Water’s bosses should eat “humble pie” over a failed takeover process last year and let other firms bid for it, according to a Hong Kong investment group angling to buy the troubled water company.CK Infrastructure (CKI), which is owned by Hong Kong’s richest man, Li Ka-shing, has already acquired Northumbrian Water and has been trying to launch a bid for Thames since February last year. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Unilever’s food mashup is hardly a delectable prospect for shareholders
This ‘growth-led separation’ is an awkward, sprawling deal, far from the clean break some may have wished forIf Unilever shareholders thought the era of management-speak twaddle ended a few chief executives ago, say hello to their new partner in the food game. Brendan Foley, the boss of US spice and condiments firm McCormick, ran through the menu as he presented his big grab for Unilever’s Hellmann’s-to-Knorr-to-Marmite food division. The logic, he explained, is all about “maximal adjacency”, “actionable growth levers” and “end-to-end flavour experiences”.From the point of view of Unilever’s investors, the guff wouldn’t matter if McCormick were paying a fat price in a cash deal. But this $44.8bn transaction is not like that. Unilever will extract $15.7bn in cash but the bulk of the value is represented by the equity element. Unilever’s shareholders will end up owning 55% of an expanded McCormick and Unilever itself will have 10%. It is a very long way from being a clean break. In effect, the FTSE 100 firm is merging its food business with a smaller US firm that will take on oodles of debt to step up several leagues. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Ben Jennings on changes to bin collections in England – cartoon
Continue reading...
bbc.com
US petrol price tops $4 for first time since 2022
The Iran war continues to push up prices at the pump for US motorists.
theguardian.com
US federal student loan borrowers: Have you had your loan forgiven? We’d like to hear from you
How will this affect your life? What plans will you make now in light of the loan forgiveness? The US Department of Education (DOE) has been informing about 164,000 federal student loan borrowers whether they are eligible for automatic student loan forgiveness.Those eligible must have attended one of more than 150 colleges that have been accused of misconduct. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The jobs AI can’t do – and the young adults doing them
For many young people entering the workforce, the stigma of hands-on jobs is fading. There a competitive appeal – and they all require human expertiseGib and Michelle Mouser are proud of their son’s career – just not in the way they once imagined.Only 23 years old, Cale Mouser already earns well over six figures, and he’ll end up making substantially more. He is an acknowledged expert in a highly specialized field who spends hours in deep thought solving hard problems. He uses a computer, but he’s not stuck behind it. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Centuries-old pottery firm Denby set to call in administrators
Almost 600 jobs could go amid higher cost of gas and labour and softening consumer demand Denby has called in administrators, putting the 217-year-old Derbyshire pottery at risk of closure with the loss of almost 600 jobs.The company, which was rescued from administration in 2009 by the restructuring experts Hilco and also owns the Burleigh brand, produced by Burgess and Leigh based in Stoke-on-Trent, is understood to have struggled with the surging cost of gas, higher labour costs, tighter financial markets and softening consumer demand for its premium homeware.Earlier this month, Sebastian Lazell, the chief executive of Denby, told BBC News he was “trying to move heaven and earth” to save the business. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Landmark losses for Meta and YouTube as big tech misses the point
Meta claims social media addiction isn’t real. Juries disagreeHello, and welcome to TechScape. I’m your host, Blake Montgomery, US tech editor for the Guardian. I’m hoping futilely for warm spring weather in New York City, but while it’s still cold, I’m sitting inside and reading The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr. Published in 2010 and a finalist for the Pulitzer prize, the book is a fascinating record of our anxieties about technology at a time when the iPhone was just three years old and Facebook was just six. Google Chrome had debuted two years prior, and I think I was using Mozilla Firefox as my main browser. Stay tuned for a fuller analysis once I finish, but my early impression is that Carr’s observations have stood the test of time.This week in tech, we’re discussing one major topic: two landmark cases against Meta and YouTube over social media addiction. Whether social media is clinically addictive or not, the liability for it has been determined.‘Accountability has arrived’: dual US court losses show shifting tide against Meta and coThe Guardian view on social media in the dock: tech bros move fast – society is trying to catch upHow Meta’s victim-blaming failed to sway jurors in landmark social media addiction trial | TechnologyI was paid to write fake Google reviews – then my ‘bosses’ tried to scam meKeep under-fives’ screen time to no more than an hour a day, UK advice saysWikipedia bans AI-generated content in its online encyclopediaFederal judge sides with Anthropic in first round of standoff with PentagonBernie Sanders and AOC introduce bill to pause building of new datacenters Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump lashes out at UK and France, telling allies 'the U.S.A. won't be there to help you anymore'
Trump re-upped his disdain for European allies that have refused to take part in the U.S. and Israel's military operation against Iran.
bbc.com
Denby appoints administrators in 'necessary step'
The 217-year-old firm says it appointed FRP Advisory as administrators on Tuesday.
theguardian.com
Demand for hydropower surges as Trump clamps down on clean energy
Home to one of the world’s largest deposits of freshwater, the Great Lakes region will soon host next-generation generators – just as prices are being hiked across the USSubmersible hydroelectric technology deployed across the Great Lakes could become a key cog in clean energy efforts, supporters say, amid surging electricity demand and costs.Home to one of the largest deposits of freshwater on the planet, the Great Lakes region has on its shores some of the largest cities in North America in Chicago, Toronto, Montreal and Detroit, where electricity demand is growing. While none of the five Great Lakes have significant tides or currents to fuel hydropower, several of the waterways that link the lakes do. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Energy bills in Great Britain forecast to hit almost £2,000 a year this summer
Consumers brace for ‘awful April’ and Iran war cost hikes, which have pushed UK’s gas market past three-year highs Households in Great Britain could see their energy bills increase by about £290 a year to almost £2,000 from this summer in a “tough pill to swallow” for consumers already braced for a volley of “awful April” cost increases from Wednesday.A typical gas and electricity bill is now forecast to reach £1,929 a year from July under the industry regulator Ofgem’s quarterly price cap, according to analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
South Korea proposes extra $17 billion budget to cushion energy costs fueled by Iran war
Seoul imports 94% of its energy needs, and almost 72% of its crude oil comes from the Middle East.
cnbc.com
Unilever’s $16 billion move shows a shift is happening in consumer products
The tie-up between Unilever and McCormick highlights a shift in strategy among consumer goods companies that prioritizes dominating specific categories
theguardian.com
Steel bosses warn ‘back door’ loophole in UK trade rules could lead to job cuts and closures
New measures will protect Tata and British Steel but allow foreign pre-made parts into the UK, say industry bossesSteel bosses have warned ministers that a “back door” in new trade rules could hit British manufacturers and lead to job cuts and factory closures by allowing a vast array of foreign products to still enter the UK tax-free.The loophole means pre-made steel parts ranging from bridge sections, columns and door frames, all the way to smaller rods and tubes used in buildings, will escape recently announced import tariffs, the Guardian understands. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Stocks, bonds and commodities: How global markets have traded the Iran war
Assets across the board have been turbulent in the month since the war began.
theguardian.com
Washington state’s ‘historic’ millionaire tax takes aim at super-rich – will it succeed?
As living costs rise, the state where Gates and Bezos made billions is targeting top earners – could other states follow?Noel Frame knows exactly how difficult it is to raise taxes on the ultra-wealthy, because she has been trying to do just that – first as an activist, then as a state legislator – for the past 15 years. And until recently almost all of her efforts ended in failure.She lives in Washington, a solid blue state that should, in theory, be hospitable to the idea of more progressive taxation and has plenty of multimillionaires to target, since it is the home of Microsoft, Amazon and an array of other tech-driven corporations. While the wealth of these tech giants has grown exponentially in recent decades, the state – which levies no income taxes – has struggled to bring in enough revenue to pay for basic services like public schooling and long-term healthcare. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
What a slip-up! The shop in Orkney that accidentally ordered 38,000 bananas
The Kirkwall branch of Tesco meant to buy 380kg of fruit. Instead, it placed an order for 380 boxes – each containing 100 piecesName: Banana bonanza.Age: A few days old – and getting riper by the minute. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'I sent eight letters': Drivers hope for payout from car finance redress scheme
Millions of motorists could be entitled to compensation with the financial regulator setting out how to apply
theguardian.com
‘Something out of the ordinary’: why are Japan’s oysters dying en masse?
A death rate of up to 90%, attributed to warming seas, is threatening the trade in Hiroshima prefecture, which produces most of the country’s farmed oystersThe Kure oyster festival is doing a brisk trade in beer and grilled meat on sticks. But the longest queues are in front of the oyster stalls, where chefs shuffle piles of mottled shellfish across griddles, waiting for their hinges to ease and reveal their fleshy interiors.Nobuyuki Miyaoka, who is attending the festival with his son, daughter-in-law and their young children, likes his oysters steamed with sake and served with a few drops of tangy ponzu sauce. “The local oysters were fine until this year,” he says. “They used to be a lot bigger … look how small they are.”Chefs prepare oysters at the Kure oyster festival. This year, local businesses and consumers say the shellfish have been scarce and smaller than usual Continue reading...
bbc.com
How will car finance compensation payments work?
Millions could be entitled to compensation as a result of commission arrangements between lenders and dealers.
bbc.com
Housing market to soften amid Iran war fallout, Nationwide says
The lender says the market regained momentum in March, but rising mortgage and energy costs could hit consumer confidence.
theguardian.com
‘Everybody’s making money’: how two backstreets become the vape capital of Britain
In Cheetham Hill, Manchester, there are more than 50 shops specialising in vapes and vaping paraphernalia. Why did they open here? And how long can they last?I meet Ali outside his tiny wholesale business, Fly Vape – the store name combined with the image of a vape bookended by angel wings appears on the shopfront. In place of a halo is a cloud of vapour. The softly spoken 40-year-old says that working in the vape trade is “OK, better than nothing”. He opened Fly Vape just over two years ago, selling vaping products to small retailers such as convenience stores. Candy-coloured boxes bursting with fruity flavours line the shelves, although body sprays, soft drinks and a plentiful selection of bongs are available too. His customers come “from all around the UK”, he says, although he names only “Leeds, Bradford, Hull”. He shrugs at the fact that, compared with his neighbours, his sales are modest. He is not one of the “big men” here, he grins.Ali’s store is in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, where two adjoining litter-strewn back streets near Manchester prison (formerly Strangeways) have emerged as a surprising industry hub in recent years. Ali’s is one of more than 50 outlets specialising in vapes and their accompanying products in an area that has been dubbed Britain’s “vape capital”. Most appear to be wholesalers; there are few passersby and some doors bear signs stating “trade only”, “not open to the public”. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
If OpenAI is to float on the stock market this year, it needs to start turning a profit
The poster child of the AI boom, valued at $850bn, needs to show strategic discipline after ‘casting its net too wide’ If OpenAI is going to float this year, it has to get serious about its business model. The wow factor around the US company – the poster child of an AI industry boom that has stoked fears of a stock market bubble – has been long established, but when will the profits come? The party can’t go on for ever.The developer of ChatGPT is one of the biggest startups in the world and is now valued at $850bn (£645bn). Meanwhile, it is reportedly spending $600bn on infrastructure (the amount it invests in datacentres and chips to power its AI models) by 2030. At least this is a reduction on an initial estimate of $1.4tn. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Korean Air takes emergency action as fuel prices soar
Many airlines are taking measures to deal with the economic impact of the Iran war.
theguardian.com
35,000 pints of stolen Guinness, 950 wheels of pilfered cheese: can the UK’s cargo theft crisis be stopped?
It costs the UK economy £700m a year, and criminal gangs are operating with near impunity. Every time a lorry gets robbed, raided or hijacked, it’s Mike Dawber who investigatesIn August 2021, Mike Dawber, the UK’s leading detective in cargo crime, got a call from officers in Bradford CID. They were planning to search two warehouses that contained, in their words, an awful lot of suspicious goods. This was a job that required Dawber’s expert eye. He drove an hour from his home, in the unmarked police car that doubles as his office, and arrived to discover the description barely did it justice.As soon as he walked in to the first warehouse, he noticed 17 pallets of golfing equipment. They had, he knew, been stolen three weeks before from a truck at Lymm motorway services, just outside Manchester. He reckoned they were worth about £1m. As Dawber continued his survey, he came across 18 pallets of Asics trainers, stolen three years before, at Warwick services. Then 14 pallets of lawnmowers: five years before, from a truck on the A1 at Colsterworth. He came across IT equipment, sportswear, high-end fashion, electrical goods, toasters, microwaves, beauty products. One pallet was simply labelled “Eyelash technology”. Dawber didn’t know what eyelash technology was, exactly, but he later learned that a pallet of it was worth more than £500,000. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC's The China Connection newsletter: China's AI race enters a new phase
A new frontier is shaping up for companies that want to make money with artificial intelligence.
bbc.com
How Trump and the oil markets move in sync: A tango in five charts
Oil markets have been sensitive to Donald Trump's comments on the war. But are traders growing less responsive?
bbc.com
Are domes and spheres the future of entertainment?
Rivals are emerging for the Las Vegas Sphere - are domes and spheres the future for entertainment?
bbc.com
Millions of drivers mis-sold car finance to receive average £829 in compensation
The City regulator says 12.1 million mis-sold motor finance deals will be eligible for redress.
theguardian.com
Focus on net zero policy is harming Britain | Letter
Paul Marshall says calling for an end to fossil fuels is impractical, in response to church leaders’ criticisms of GB News’s stance on climate scienceThe net zero consensus is crumbling – that is the background to the open letter addressed to me last week from 60 well-intentioned but misguided clerics (Church leaders criticise Christian owner of GB News over channel’s climate attacks, 26 March). I share their concerns for stewardship of the planet and their belief in the importance of human flourishing. I also agree that the planet is in a gradual warming phase and that carbon emissions have contributed to this.Where we differ is on their policy response. Calling for an end to fossil fuels is an impractical and ideological policy position that leads to the emasculation of our main sources of energy at the expense of millions of jobs. It is subject to what is called a collective action problem. Net zero might work for the UK if the whole world had signed up to same timeline. However, India and China have very different and distant schedules. And now that the US has left the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UK is left pursuing a path of unilateral economic disarmament. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Oil rises and Asia shares slide as Iran war enters fifth week
It comes after Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen joined the conflict by striking Israel over the weekend.
bbc.com
What was the 1970s oil crisis, and are we heading for something worse?
While both crises involve oil, experts say there are some important differences between what happened in the 1970s and today.
theguardian.com
China’s ‘teapot’ oil refineries keep economy brewing – but surging crude prices leave them strained
The factories, which buy cheap crude and turn it into fuel, are struggling as higher oil prices threaten their razor-sharp margins The towns that are the bulwark of China’s energy security can, at a moment of global crisis, appear deceptively quiet. Trucks carrying oil trundle along wide-open highways that have little traffic, while a few boarded-up shops in crumbling low-rise buildings hint at a long-forgotten local buzz.A ramshackle noodle shop serving hand-pulled ribbons of dough was empty at lunchtime, save for a few construction workers and a teacher watching videos on Douyin, the social media platform, with his meal. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why Chinese tech companies are racing to set up in Hong Kong
Mainland firms are using the territory to test products and as a springboard for global expansion.
bbc.com
Tech CEOs suddenly love blaming AI for mass job cuts. Why?
More tech leaders are pointing to job cuts caused by AI tools - and a need for more investment cash.
bbc.com
Cut taxes on energy bills before giving bailouts, Badenoch says
The Tory leader refuses to rule out direct payments to households if bills spike but says this would come at a cost.
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
Agent begged Epstein to have sex with model, emails show
Ramsey Elkholy introduced the financier to women as young as 18 in correspondence over almost a decade.
bbc.com
Asda boss rejects profiteering claims as petrol price tops 150p
Motorists are facing higher fuel prices ahead of Easter break due to the conflict in the Middle East, the RAC says.
bbc.com
'Ripple of fear' over Iran war hits consumer confidence
A key survey indicates growing doubt among shoppers over prospects for the UK economy in the next year.
bbc.com
Just Eat and Autotrader among firms investigated in fake reviews probe
The UK's competition watchdog says it is looking at five firms in its investigation into misleading online reviews.
bbc.com
'Affordability is the biggest thing' - Conservatives mixed on economy under Trump
Conservatives gathered at the annual CPAC conference in Texas were mixed when asked about their feelings on the current economy.
bbc.com
The spiky cactus fruit giving Indian farmers a cash boost
Indian farmers are turning to dragon fruit as a profitable alternative to mangoes and coffee.
bbc.com
Who knew Lord Sugar is a table tennis fan?
The Apprentice candidates try to sell a table tennis set live on TV.
bbc.co.uk
The Briefing Room
What are the reasons for the large number of young people without a job in the UK?
bbc.com
How to make the most of your Lifetime Isa
Martin Lewis explains that you can use your Lifetime Isa to buy with someone who has already bought.
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
The homeless teenager who became a successful advertising boss
Greg Daily has swapped sleeping on friends' sofas for running a popular digital marketing company.
bbc.com
Would you build your own apps?
Start-ups are offering tech for novices to create apps with the help of AI.
bbc.com
US weight-loss drugmakers slash prices in fight to win customers
Weight-loss drug prices are falling in the US - but can the example be repeated?
bbc.com
Germany has a shortage of workers - so it's turning to India for help
The European nation, struggling to find skilled staff, is giving jobs to young people from India.
bbc.com
'Club vibes without the hangover': The twenty-somethings going out - in the gym
Young people are driving a gym boom as more fitness spaces are transformed into vibrant hangouts.
bbc.com
Home working, long leases and rise of parking apps - what went wrong for NCP
How could a company that charged as much as £65 for a day's parking fail to turn a profit?
bbc.com
Colombia's budding tech scene needs a cash boost
Colombia has become a tech hub for Latin America, but attracting investors is a challenge.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
bbc.com
How Finnish supermarkets are central to the country's defence
The chains all have detailed plans to follow in the event of the nation going to war.
bbc.com
Is it possible to build a plastic-free home?
Using plastic in construction is cheap and easy, but some are trying to radically cut back its use.
bbc.com
Ukraine's urgent fight on the financial frontline
The war-torn country is battling to secure crucial funding from the IMF and EU, as well as putting up taxes.
bbc.com
Why has Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil - and will it help Putin?
The US said easing sanctions on Russian oil would provide only a limited financial boost to Putin.
bbc.com
Dharshini David: Economy on shaky ground even before Iran war
The government's hopes that 2026 would be the year when growth picks up are at risk of being scuppered.
bbc.com
Can plastic-eating fungi help clean up nappy waste?
Cost and convenience have made disposable nappies dominant - can start-ups compete?
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
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